As some of you know, I am in the process of introducing a spayed 3 y/o newly adopted cat (Squeak) to a 1.5-2 y/o resident cat (Gracie). We will have had Squeak for 3 weeks this weekend, so this is really looking like its going to be a multiple month process.
History: Gracie was found by a coworker in January, meowing outside on a cold day, so he brought her in. They never found an owner, but she was already spayed and was in excellent shape. At night, one of his two resident cats would attack her in ways that left scratches and marks, so in March, he decided she might be best rehomed and we took her. She is extremely social and playful.
Squeak has always been listed by her shelter as good with cats, dogs, and children. She is extremely affectionate towards people. She was allowed to roam around with other cats in the shelter, as she always got along with them. However, she was previously adopted and "returned" after 3 days, with the adopters explaining she was aggressive towards their resident cat. She continued to live at the shelter and be okay with the cats there. We even saw her and another cat in the little room they put you in to get to know the cats, and there were no problems. When we got her home, we put her in her own room. A few times since, we've tried to have a face to five meeting for them, but they haven't gone well. We just plugged in our Feliway diffusers a week ago.
We took another step backwards today, when Squeak got out of her safe room and swatted Gracie, who backed off; then followed Gracie while staring aggressively; then full-on attacked G (at which point I threw a towel on S, grabbed her-still growling- and got her back in her safe-room). No one was hurt, but I think only because I acted. This was probably the worst of their encounters.
This comes after we'd been waiting almost a full week to try to begin intros again. I've realized "no contact" for a human- being in different rooms separated by a door- is not likely no contact for cats; they can both get noses and paws under the door. The past day or so, I've noticed that Gracie's "paw under the door" play seemed to be "escalating", and as always, it was STILL producing hisses, growls, and even swats from Squeak. I'm guessing this intensified aggression from S is linked to that. I've now placed a towel under the door to S's room so G can't bother her.
So now I'm faced with how to move us forward. I am planning on:
•Continuing to use Feliway. Maximum effectiveness supposedly may take months. Worth a try.
•Jackson Galaxy's "Peacemaker" and "Bully" essences were ordered today; I will use them when they arrive.
•Give the girls another cooling-off period- this time with a towel under the door!
•Continue with feedings by the door but, for a few days at least, with the towel still in place. Then see if we can do feedings without towel in place; then towel goes back immediately.
•Make sure everyone gets daily interactive play sessions, to fulfill mental stimulation needs, provide a positive outlet for aggression, increase happiness, decrease stress, etc.
•Make sure everyone gets "face-time" with us and cuddles (if they like/want it).
•Continue with site-swapping.
•Continue with daily brushing with the same comb.
•Continue clicker-training with each cat, so that they are prepared for clicker training during introductions. I think this will be especially important for Squeak, though Gracie needs it too.
•Eventually, spend some time w/towel not under the door clicker-training Gracie not to bother Squeak. The fact that she "doesn't know when to stop" is a problem. Obviously, I have no idea what her socialization was like as a kitten or if she had sufficient time w/siblings.
•Brush them daily with the same brush.
Other eventual goals are feeding them at the same time with a baby gate between them, giving them simultaneous interactive playtime with the baby gate between them, and clicker training Squeak not to aggressively stare at Gracie through the baby gate.
My deepest fear is that we'll have to rehome Squeak, but as you can see I really think we should spend some serious time working with her (and Gracie) first. We love her, she has the potential to get along with other cats, and she needs help doing so for whatever reason. That wouldn't be different in another home. It will also certainly be difficult to rehome an adult who needs to be an only cat and who was returned to a shelter once- not to mention even more traumatic for poor Squeak. I'm not seriously considering that yet, but it is my greatest fear.
My other obstacle is my boyfriend, who is not interested in working on behavioral issues with our cats. His attitude is to feed/water them daily and maybe occasionally clean a litter box. He's fine letting me do more, but I'm worried about his patience running out with Squeak. Especially since her room is his study, and he hates that it's hard toget in a out of because he has to keep the cats separate. Hopefully the towel isn't going to exacerbate that too much. It's also frustrating bc he's not much of a help in this process and is often contrarian about what I say, even though I've done the research and he hasn't. It's at very least dispiriting through this whole process.
I'm certainly open to suggestions and ideas, but mainly I'm just venting and looking for support. (Insight is also welcome!) It also allows me to be held accountable to what I say I'm going to do, as well as to keep a record of our progress.
Wish us luck please!!!!
History: Gracie was found by a coworker in January, meowing outside on a cold day, so he brought her in. They never found an owner, but she was already spayed and was in excellent shape. At night, one of his two resident cats would attack her in ways that left scratches and marks, so in March, he decided she might be best rehomed and we took her. She is extremely social and playful.
Squeak has always been listed by her shelter as good with cats, dogs, and children. She is extremely affectionate towards people. She was allowed to roam around with other cats in the shelter, as she always got along with them. However, she was previously adopted and "returned" after 3 days, with the adopters explaining she was aggressive towards their resident cat. She continued to live at the shelter and be okay with the cats there. We even saw her and another cat in the little room they put you in to get to know the cats, and there were no problems. When we got her home, we put her in her own room. A few times since, we've tried to have a face to five meeting for them, but they haven't gone well. We just plugged in our Feliway diffusers a week ago.
We took another step backwards today, when Squeak got out of her safe room and swatted Gracie, who backed off; then followed Gracie while staring aggressively; then full-on attacked G (at which point I threw a towel on S, grabbed her-still growling- and got her back in her safe-room). No one was hurt, but I think only because I acted. This was probably the worst of their encounters.
This comes after we'd been waiting almost a full week to try to begin intros again. I've realized "no contact" for a human- being in different rooms separated by a door- is not likely no contact for cats; they can both get noses and paws under the door. The past day or so, I've noticed that Gracie's "paw under the door" play seemed to be "escalating", and as always, it was STILL producing hisses, growls, and even swats from Squeak. I'm guessing this intensified aggression from S is linked to that. I've now placed a towel under the door to S's room so G can't bother her.
So now I'm faced with how to move us forward. I am planning on:
•Continuing to use Feliway. Maximum effectiveness supposedly may take months. Worth a try.
•Jackson Galaxy's "Peacemaker" and "Bully" essences were ordered today; I will use them when they arrive.
•Give the girls another cooling-off period- this time with a towel under the door!
•Continue with feedings by the door but, for a few days at least, with the towel still in place. Then see if we can do feedings without towel in place; then towel goes back immediately.
•Make sure everyone gets daily interactive play sessions, to fulfill mental stimulation needs, provide a positive outlet for aggression, increase happiness, decrease stress, etc.
•Make sure everyone gets "face-time" with us and cuddles (if they like/want it).
•Continue with site-swapping.
•Continue with daily brushing with the same comb.
•Continue clicker-training with each cat, so that they are prepared for clicker training during introductions. I think this will be especially important for Squeak, though Gracie needs it too.
•Eventually, spend some time w/towel not under the door clicker-training Gracie not to bother Squeak. The fact that she "doesn't know when to stop" is a problem. Obviously, I have no idea what her socialization was like as a kitten or if she had sufficient time w/siblings.
•Brush them daily with the same brush.
Other eventual goals are feeding them at the same time with a baby gate between them, giving them simultaneous interactive playtime with the baby gate between them, and clicker training Squeak not to aggressively stare at Gracie through the baby gate.
My deepest fear is that we'll have to rehome Squeak, but as you can see I really think we should spend some serious time working with her (and Gracie) first. We love her, she has the potential to get along with other cats, and she needs help doing so for whatever reason. That wouldn't be different in another home. It will also certainly be difficult to rehome an adult who needs to be an only cat and who was returned to a shelter once- not to mention even more traumatic for poor Squeak. I'm not seriously considering that yet, but it is my greatest fear.
My other obstacle is my boyfriend, who is not interested in working on behavioral issues with our cats. His attitude is to feed/water them daily and maybe occasionally clean a litter box. He's fine letting me do more, but I'm worried about his patience running out with Squeak. Especially since her room is his study, and he hates that it's hard toget in a out of because he has to keep the cats separate. Hopefully the towel isn't going to exacerbate that too much. It's also frustrating bc he's not much of a help in this process and is often contrarian about what I say, even though I've done the research and he hasn't. It's at very least dispiriting through this whole process.
I'm certainly open to suggestions and ideas, but mainly I'm just venting and looking for support. (Insight is also welcome!) It also allows me to be held accountable to what I say I'm going to do, as well as to keep a record of our progress.
Wish us luck please!!!!
